Is this engine any good ?

I got a 95 cavy with the 2.2l

Is this engine worth investing in it for performance or should I save my money for a swap ?

Also I heard that syntethic oil was better than normal oil is that true ?
What's the best oil for this car (I don't really care about the price) ?

Not bad, but not really worth the money. I would say swap in a 4.0 or 4.6 northstar (with its tranny) from a Cadillac/Buick Riviera/Olds Aurora. If not one of those, then a 3.8 (with its tranny). Your stock tranny will never hold up to the torque of a bigger engine (unless you would be lucky enough to have the 4L60-E).

I am a believer in synthetic, but some people are dead-set against it. I have the same engine, and Royal Purple 5w-30 dropped my temp by 20 degrees or so over a continuous 900 mile drive. Also, when draining the RP 3000 miles after putting it in, it looked clean as new.

The simple width of the northstar motor plus tranny couldn't be accomodated by a j-body without cutting into some strut towers.

Some guy here is selling his old Sunbird with a 2.8 or 3.1 (not sure) in it and I think I could get it for a pretty low price.
Would it be a good idea to take the engine and tranny from it and swap those in my car ?

I was only hoping a northstar would fit, I have never actually looked into doing it, damn, oh well.

I don't think I would swap in a 2.8, they don't offer much more than your stock engine (you can get just as much out of your 2.2 with intake and header/exhaust). But 3.1's are great, aside from the occasional head gasket problem, and when they are in good shape they are fairly torquey as well.

Some guy here is selling his old Sunbird with a 2.8 or 3.1 (not sure) in it and I think I could get it for a pretty low price.
Would it be a good idea to take the engine and tranny from it and swap those in my car ?
You'd find it tons easier to swap in a Twin Cam or a Quad4 on your car. Even an Ecotec should be easier to swap. If you really want the V6 that won't require an absolute pocketbook-busting experience, a 3400 would be much easier than say a 3800 which is a 90 degree V6. Best you can do on a 60-degree V6 block (like the 2.8, 3.1, or 3x00) is the 3400.

ok the sunbird has a 2.8 so I'll forget that...

Get an ecotec and I use royal purple oil for mine.

Ok I just got more info about this guy's Sunbird...

My car:
1995 Cavalier, 5 speed, 2.2l OHV, head gasket needs to be replaced, muffler too

The guy's car:
1994 Sunbird, 5 speed, 2.0l OHC, engine has been rebuilt last year, 1200$ CAN

Now I don't know if I should keep my car or just buy it and drive it instead of my cavy.... or buy a flux capacitor :iceslolan
I'd like to get visual mods and header, exhaust, intake

I guess my question is: Which engine is the best ? 2.2 OHV or 2.0 OHC ??
And don't tell me to get an ecotec or whatever, I don't have the money/time to invest for a swap

If you're going for looks alone or you care more about doing exterior work, I'd keep the cavy. If you're going for performance, I'd only take the sunbird if it's the SE coupe, V6 140hp, if it's not I wouldn't take it because if it's the LE, it has less hp then the 2.2 cavy, I'm assuming less mods but i wouldnt know and it's just alot more ugly lol But if you care about performance that much, i'd either save money for a 2.4 swap or just fix and sell the 2.2 and buy a z24.

Thanks Lances for your quick reply.
Your words are full of wisdom...

I'll keep my cavy and get some sick visual mods hehe...

Nobody likes the 2.3 HO anymore?

There are performance parts for the 2.2 OHV...

www.jbodyperformance.com